Semi-Auto selection

In that price range look for a used Remington 1100, used Beretta A400, new Beretta A300 as far as reliability goes.

You can get an idea about pricing from here:
https://www.gunsinternational.com/

My son shot trap with a 11-87 and also hunts with it. I have one just for slug hunting. Mossberg 930 seems to fit much like a 1100 or 1187. Berettas and Benellis are very good guns but the fit is a little different for me. To me fit and feel are important. I had some Franchi's I liked but they don't make them like I had anymore. My best gun is a Beretta.

Franchi Affinity in wood stock configuration? In your price range brand new and IMO exceptional bang for the buck in current market situation.

I would say the Mossberg 930 on the lower end of the price scale, the Beretta A300 in the middle, and the Browning Maxus or Beretta A400 on the higher end. All are very reliable and versatile. Lots of guys seem to like the older Remington's, but the newer designs are lighter, run cleaner, and shoot a wider variety of loads without adjustment.
I've got a whole safe full of shotguns and the Mossberg 930 probably gets used more than the rest put together.

I had a first year issue 11/87 Waterfowl magnum model with 30 inch barrel. Can’t say enough good about it. When that gun barked geese rained from the sky. Never had any reliability issues with the gas system. If I remember right it was self equalizing and shot light and heavy loads without jams.

kudu said:

Had a couple Benellis handed to me to try. Didn't care for them, would not run light target shells reliably and had more/different recoil.

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As a sidenote, Benellis are by far the most common shotguns on Argentinian dove hunts where shot count can rise up to thousands (sic!) a day for one gun and they'll have to cycle light 1oz or even 7/8oz loads reliably all day long. And the following day the same thing, all over again.

Felt recoil is definitely a bit different than on gas guns. Some like them, some hate them, and it all boils down to personal preference.

Personally I'm quite fond of Benellis. Particularly my all-rounder, Centro Supersport, which has yet to malfunction with a single round in any way, after almost two decades and approximately 35-40k rounds. It shoots anything from 7/8oz reduced recoil loads to hottest 2oz magnums, quite literally without a fail. Then again, it's not a $1000 shotgun but largely based on Montefeltro, which is.

rule303 said:

Lots of guys seem to like the older Remington's, but the newer designs are lighter, run cleaner, and shoot a wider variety of loads without adjustment.

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I agree though there is nothing wrong with the 1100 and 1187. I’d rather have a V3 or Versa Max though.

kudu said:

I have shot a couple Franchi auto's, very finicky, at least the ones I shot.

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I believe that’s an anomaly. The two I currently own are not finicky at all. The 720 I used to own and deeply regret selling wasn’t picky either.

OP, I believe today’s mainstream shotguns are dependable. I currently own recent manufacture Browning, Winchester, FABARM, Franchi and Weatherby-all trouble free. In the recent past I’ve owned Beretta, Benelli and Mossberg. They were trouble free too.
Unfortunately the one Benelli and two Beretta’s just didn’t fit me.

So if were you I’d go handle and molest as many different shotguns as possible, and purchase what felt best when shouldering. Doesn’t matter if it’s a $500.00 or a $1200.00 shotgun.

I'm really partial to the Benelli M1 or newer M2 shotguns. But they are out of your budget. My brother has this shotgun and loves it.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/beretta-a300-outlander-semi-auto-shotgun-with-black-synthetic-stock

Not sure what they go for but a browning A5 is a solid shooter.

Most all of my other shotgunning is done with Remington pumps, with an occasional old Winchester thrown in. Or the 22-410.

For a 20ga, I definitely recommend a 3" chamber.
For a 12ga, if you plan on turkey or waterfowling, 3" is a must. Upland bird and skeet only, then a 2.75" is plenty.

My favorite hunting shotgun is my Mossberg 930 (auto). I have the long (28"?) barrel for doves and ducks, and a shorter (24'?) barrel for turkey. It is 3" and uses screw in chokes, and has ugly plastic furniture I camo'd with that adhesive you apply with a heat gun. Lightweight and reliable. It is not nearly as classy as my ithaca 37 (fixed choke, wood furniture, 2 3/4") or a classic like an A5, wingmaster, etc. but for what I am using it for that 930 is more than just fine.

I'm in a similar position. I'm wanting to replace my 12 ga 870 with an autoloader for dove, the occasional upland hunt, and informal clay shooting just to stay in practice. I've considered an 11-87 or 1100, and also a used Browning Gold (I used to shoot with a buddy that had one, I remember liking it). A Benelli Montefeltro is also on my list as I like the idea of not having a dirty gas system and have always been intrigued by their recoil system.

As far as shell length, can you even buy a new autoloader in 2-3/4" these days? All my 20 and 12 gauges have 3" chambers, but the only 3" loads I've ever shot was when I went turkey hunting one year.

I prefer my Beretta A400s; one is the blue "smurf" target and the other is the green Xplor Unico; one for targets, one for hunting when I feel the need for a 12. Smurf weighs just over 8#, the green weighs right at 7

Nothing wrong with a Beretta AL391, either

I went with the FNH. If I was a hunting man I would have chosen Beretta the A300 or A400. Can't go wrong with a Remington either.

bassjam said:

As far as shell length, can you even buy a new autoloader in 2-3/4" these days?

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Yes, at least in 12 gauge.

As far as 2 3/4 inch only 12 gauge semi autos go, the only one I can think of that is currently made is the Remington 1100.

So do FABARM and Winchester.

Winchester SX, beretta 390/391/3901/400

Aside from guys out to warm up their shooting before the season, you see very few inertia action guns shooting clay birds. Mostly O/Us. but what semis there are are gas operated.

I find that the cast/drop spacer designs of the modern Beretta and Benelli guns are really helpful in getting the gun dialed in to a shooter. I am also partial to the parallel comb option of the Benelli.

Virginian said:

you see very few inertia action guns shooting clay birds.

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I know I'm the odd duck in the pond but I really like my inertia gun for clays. The best part is how clean it stays and it's light weight. The limb saver butt pad also made a huge difference. Just my preference.

>>I know I'm the odd duck in the pond but I really like my inertia gun for clays.<<

Another odd duck here, as my Benelli Sport ll has been my primary sporting clays gun for the past 14 years. I've had a Kick-Eez butt pad on it from shortly after I got it, and recoil is no problem. (to me) I have a couple of gas guns as well, but don't really perceive much difference in recoil.